Learning to Live in the Moment!

Ladies, I know I’ve been gone for a week. But I promise it was for a good reason. 

Your girl went to the Caribbean and got her whole life handed to her on a platter. There was no moment of my trip where I was sad, stressed, or frustrated. 

I was on cloud nine, living my best life even on the airplane, which I am not a fan of all the time. 

As usual, I received a lot of lessons while I basked in my four-day vacation. Of course, we don’t have time to review all of them, but I will share one that has replayed in my mind the last couple of days. 

It’s a simple reflective sentiment, but it speaks volumes!

One of the things I love about visiting the Caribbean is how much individuals take their time there. Being from New York, I always want to sprint down the street, but I take my time in the Caribbean because everyone else does the same. 

It’s like I become a whole new person. But, during this past trip, I realized it because the Caribbean requires you to slow down. 

It doesn’t force you to feel like a hamster running on a wheel. Instead, it allows you to move at the pace you want. 

Now, don’t let my statement above confuse you. People get things done in the Caribbean! Individuals own businesses, run empires, care for children, and run corporations. 

But I want to know why the air doesn’t feel like hustle & bustle like it does when I am home. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to why that is. I wish I did because I would incorporate it everywhere I go. 

One theory I have is that it’s a non-discussed rule that everyone follows and abides by for their well-being. 

Now, maybe that isn’t true, but we will follow that philosophy for this post today. 

While sipping my mimosa on the beach, I wrote in my iPhone Notes app about the beauty in front of me. 

The waves were calm, the people were smiling, the music was soothing, and I exhaled for the first time in a few months. 

I didn’t realize I had been waiting to exhale, but the minute it happened, all my stress was released, and I could bask in the peace surrounding me. 

At that moment, I was reminded that I must exhale whether I am on a beach, in a busy restaurant, lying in bed, or writing on my laptop. 

EXHALING allowed me to live in the moment and recognize everything happening around me. 

Often, we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of work-life culture and desperately need to exhale. 

We don’t recognize that if we did, it wouldn’t remove all our stress, but it would provide a moment of peace that allows us to heal, recover, and find the strength to keep going. 

Living in the moment can be challenging sometimes. We may think it is rooted in putting our phones to the side or staying off social media, but while those things may help, they are not the only way to be present. 

Living in the moment means spending time in nature (e.g., going for walks), journaling, smiling, and focusing on one task at a time (e.g., stopping multitasking). 

It also looks like booking that vacation you know you’ve been holding off on, having a good conversation with a friend, praying, watching a good movie, and sitting on a beach in your hometown. 

Vacationing is not the only way to ground yourself; staycations in your home have the same effect. 

Grab yourself a mocktail, a glass of wine, or your favorite whiskey. Light some candles, get some good food, and sit back in your presence. 

We need to do more exhaling and not let this hustle & bustle culture get us caught up. 

Tell me in the comments when the last time you exhaled was.

See you all next week!

Peace & Prosperity, 

Jadis DeShong-Venay